Shloka 4
हत्वा च पाण्डवान् युद्धे स्फीतामुर्वीमवाप्स्यथ । निहता वा परैर्युद्धे वीरलोकमवाप्स्यथ,“तुम सब लोग युद्धस्थलमें पाण्डवोंका वध करके भूतलका समृद्धिशाली राज्य प्राप्त करोगे अथवा शत्रुओंद्वारा युद्धमें मारे जाकर वीरगति पाओगे'
hatvā ca pāṇḍavān yuddhe sphītām urvīm avāpsyatha | nihatā vā parair yuddhe vīralokam avāpsyatha ||
Sañjaya said: “By slaying the Pāṇḍavas in battle, you will obtain the flourishing sovereignty of the earth; or, if you are slain by the enemy in the fight, you will attain the heroes’ world.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames battle in a kṣatriya ethical register: either victory brings legitimate worldly sovereignty, or death in combat brings honor and a heroic afterlife (vīraloka). This ‘either way’ framing is meant to steady courage and remove hesitation.
Sañjaya reports a rallying assurance given to the warriors: if they kill the Pāṇḍavas they will gain a prosperous kingdom; if they fall to the enemy, they will attain the realm of heroes. It functions as motivational counsel before or amid the fighting.